Forbidden Liaison: They lived and loved for the here and now (14 page)

The days went by with no sign of Izzy’s father giving-in, wanting to see his daughter again. He even cut himself and Hannah off further by having the phone line disconnected up at the farm as he said he couldn’t afford it any longer. Hannah desperately wanted to see her daughter after finding out someone had been to the cottage to demolish everything Izzy and Alain had worked for. But she was afraid of Sydney’s reaction if he found out. She had stood up to him that one time, and, if she did nothing else, she was determined to stay in Izzy’s room until he came to his senses. As for seeing Izzy, if Hannah did disobey her husband by going down to see her at her sister’s, she thought it just might tip the balance as far as her relationship with her husband was concerned. Sydney seemed to accept the new sleeping arrangements as his price to pay for being stubborn and immovable on the stance he took regarding his daughter. But his wife defying his wishes was a different matter.

From the first day of Izzy moving into the billet, Heinrich had made it clear to Margaret he would pay her extra money every Friday for Izzy’s keep as she had no job. She had tried to seek out some sort of work, but no one would take her on, not even the local grocery store. Izzy became a kept woman, like a lot of other women who had taken up with German soldiers. But once those soldiers were posted elsewhere, the women found themselves totally alone. And if they had children, they often as not went without food. Life was abysmal for these women and their children, so entertaining the troops was the only solution left to them, at least they could feed their children and themselves. The will to survive was so strong it disregarded the rights and wrongs.

Life at The Beach Hotel went on as normal. The troops came and went, Harry became far more talkative and involved in household matters, and Izzy pottered about the house doing her allocated chores. But it got to the point where she couldn’t even go out any more, and Heinrich, try as he may, he just couldn’t keep the gossip from spreading, or stop the inhabitants taunting Izzy the minute she set foot outside the door to even peg out the washing in the back yard. He did make sure, though, the troops billeted at the small hotel treated Izzy and her aunt and uncle with respect, as all three of them had to endure the name-calling, the spitting, the odd shove in a shopping queue, the odd poke in the back. Margaret could do nothing about the islanders, but she could make sure Izzy was safe and relatively happy. 

Heinrich’s duties of policing the island he had always found mundane, and boring, but he now preferred the peacefulness of the islands to the constant barrage of enemy fire. He had been on the island now for six months: and what a six months it had been. Not only had he met a woman he had instantly fallen in love with, but he knew he had changed. He began to recognise there was some semblance of his old self showing through. But the happiness he felt at being in love was often tinged with sadness. Even though the troops were fed on the constant propaganda about how well the Germany Army was doing in all theatres of war, only a few believed it. And he realised his life could suddenly change overnight. But his hope was the war would end soon.

Izzy was taking an afternoon nap and was lying on top of the double bed in Heinrich’s room, drifting off into a light sleep, her book having dropped onto the floor. She didn’t hear Heinrich unlock the door to step inside. Seeing Izzy lying on her side he crept across the room, and trying not to disturb her he covered her with a blanket. He then went to sit in the armchair by the window after he had taken his sketchpad from the top drawer of the dresser. He began to draw her. He still had that picture in his head of Izzy standing naked in the middle of the room the night before, her breasts pointing at him like two accusing fingers. She stirred to turn over.

‘Hello,’ Heinrich whispered from across the room.

Izzy opened her eyes. ‘Hello, how long have you been there?’

‘Only a few minutes,’ he replied smiling.

Izzy sat up to swing her legs from the bed. ‘You’re drawing me again,’ she said feeling for her shoes with her feet.

Heinrich walked over to her to put her feet in the shoes he retrieved from under the bed then he ran his hands up her legs as he knelt down, looking up at her.

Izzy slaked her fingers through his hair. ‘May I see the drawing?’ she asked.

Heinrich got up to retrieve the pad from the table in the bay of the window. ‘Here,’ he said sitting at the side of her on the bed. Izzy looked at the sketch. ‘I lay watching you undress last night.’

‘My belly looks…’ Izzy paused. Her belly did look bloated.

‘Don’t all women’s bellies look big when they are about to come on?’ Heinrich replied.

Izzy turned her head away from him, she could never lie when looking someone in the face. ‘Yes, you’re right,’ she said, ignoring the fact she was about to miss her third period, but, at the same time, despairing that he just might discover her secret as they slept together now most nights.

She now looked into his face. ‘Do you want me?’ she asked. ‘Because I want you.’

‘I always want you,’ Heinrich replied kissing her on the cheek.

Izzy stood up and began to undress. Heinrich sat on the bed watching, getting excited. When she was totally naked he flung the bedclothes back for Izzy to climb in. Heinrich was soon at her side, having quickly flung off his own clothing. He was kissing her as she lay on her back, his lips on hers, his tongue wet and probing, his hands sweeping over her body, his fingertip touch as light as a feather. Izzy moaned softly as she felt down to take him in her hand to satisfy him, but he stopped her to disappear under the bedclothes. Izzy suddenly felt his head resting on her thigh. She opened her legs wide wanting him to touch her. He licked her, and continued using his tongue until Izzy arched her back before shoving the sheet into her mouth to stop the noise. Then she felt the baby for the first time. Something fluttered in her belly, and it had nothing to do with the orgasm that had left behind a deep throbbing sensation. Heinrich shuffled up the bed to lie by her side. Izzy turned to face him, then taking him in her hand she gave only a few gentle pulls before he came, shoving his face into her breasts to suffocate the noise of his groaning.

They lay in each other’s arms, their breathing soft and in unison, Izzy’s naked body pushed against Heinrich’s. He could feel her breasts against his chest, her belly against his belly and her groin against his groin. Izzy felt another little flutter but said nothing. It appeared not to like its mother excited. She had disturbed it too much, and it appeared it didn’t take kindly to its father interfering with its mother.

‘I love you,’ Heinrich whispered.

‘And I love you,’ Izzy smiled.

‘I wish I could make things right,’ he said.

‘It would take more than you to make everything right, unless you’re a miracle worker,’ Izzy replied.

‘Is there anything you need: want,’ Heinrich asked. ‘Anything that I might be able to do, or get for you?’

‘I would like to see my mother,’ Izzy replied.

‘Has she not contacted you yet?’

‘No,’ Izzy sighed. ‘Not even written me a letter.’

‘Would you like me to go up there?’ Heinrich asked.

‘That would be like fanning the flames of an already enormous bonfire,’ Izzy remarked.

‘Yes, I suppose it would,’ he conceded.

There was a sudden noise coming from the landing. It was the men coming back from their shift. Izzy sat up as Heinrich got out of bed to dress. He was just pulling on his boots when a knock came at the door. Izzy smiled as Heinrich put his forefinger up to his mouth as if telling her to be quiet. ‘What is it?’ he shouted, as he put one arm inside his tunic jacket.

‘It’s Steiner, Sir, could I have a word?’

‘I’ll be down in a minute, wait in the kitchen.’

‘Yes, Sir,’ they heard him reply before he stomped off down the stairs.

Even though Izzy had said for Heinrich not to interfere, the following morning Heinrich decided to do something about the deadlock between Izzy and her parents. Although Izzy had seemed happy enough to lean on Margaret and Harry over the past few weeks, he knew she still needed her mother to be part of her life. He ordered Steiner to be outside waiting with the car at six thirty, so after breakfasting he left the town to travel along the coast road to the farm. The sea was rough, and the skies overcast, rain was coming. He spotted a German supply ship making its way to the docks, laden with food, mail and other goods for the troops, and he wondered if the authorities would let another Red Cross ship call again with parcels for the islanders.

They arrived at the farm as it started to rain. Steiner was about to get out of the car but Heinrich told him to stay put.

‘Will you be long, Sir?’ Steiner asked, turning off the engine. ‘Because, as you know, my orders were to take you to the Major’s office first thing this morning.’

‘No, and what are you? My Mother?’ Heinrich retorted sarcastically.

‘Sir, you should not be interfering,’ Steiner said, knowing there would be a back-lash, if not from the Major, their commanding officer, it would most certainly be from Izzy.’

‘Just mind yours, and I will mind mine, Steiner,’ Heinrich commented as he got out of the car to slam the door shut then dash across the yard only for his boots to pick up mud as he went.

There was a small overhang of a wooden canopy over the kitchen door and as he reached it he banged on the door wanting to get in out of the rain. As Hannah answered, Heinrich immediately stepped in to take the cap from his head to shake the water from it.

‘What do you want?’ Heinrich heard Sydney shout from across the room.

‘To speak with your wife,’ Heinrich replied standing just beside the door which he had closed as the rain, which was now falling in sheets, was sweeping inside to pool on the quarry tiled floor.

Hannah’s face took on a deep frown.

‘She’s done nothing, so why do you want to talk to her?’ Sydney asked.     
 

Heinrich’s eyes rested on the breakfast table. ‘How did you acquire that butter?’ he asked raising his eyebrows.

Hannah was almost in tears as she knew the cream needed to make it had been skimmed off a few churns.

‘We did an exchange for it,’ Sydney said.

‘Really?’ Heinrich asked looking at Hannah again. ‘For what?’

‘Some vegetables,’ Sydney replied. ‘Vegetables Hannah grows,’ he added.

‘Yesterday we found the tally was short of a few pints of cream. It was noted a small amount had been skimmed from a few churns in the hope it would not be noticed,’ Heinrich replied still looking at Hannah.

Hannah became agitated.

‘I will have to take you down to headquarters for further questioning,’ Heinrich said, still looking at Hannah.

‘You leave her alone,’ Sydney shouted.

‘I am not touching her, but would you kindly get your coat and anything else you wish to take,’ Heinrich asked still looking at Hannah.

Sydney walked towards Heinrich and stood directly in front of him. ‘Cowards, that what you lot are, intimidating women, is that all you’ve got to do?’ he seethed.

‘I would be careful of what you say, old man, because from what I’ve heard, you are not averse to throwing your weight about yourself,’ Heinrich remarked.

As Hannah appeared in her coat, her handbag hung from her left wrist, Heinrich smiled at her. ‘You will need an umbrella, it’s raining heavily out there,’ he said.

Sydney suddenly shoved himself between his wife and the Oberleutnant. ‘You’re not taking her anywhere,’ he said.

Heinrich quickly unclipped his side arm and Sydney took a step back. ‘If you don’t stop making a nuisance of yourself, I will arrest you too, and then who will milk the cows?’ Heinrich asked.

Sydney stepped away. Heinrich opened the door to let Hannah out first, then they both hurried across the expanse of mud to the waiting car where Hannah sat in the back with Heinrich next to her.

Heinrich quite liked Hannah, she reminded him of his own mother and thought they might get on well if they ever met properly. But Sydney? Heinrich knew Sydney would never accept him, no matter what he did, or said to bridge that chasm of bigotry and prejudice that had begun over twenty years before, at the start of the Great War. But this war was different, his country had shown unfairness and intolerance, but the whole picture of what was happening to those discriminated against was yet to be uncovered. And Heinrich? He carried out his orders knowing that he could be sent off to fight another day, if not die another day, so he had come to accept the here and now, how else could they all live? He wondered again what he was fighting for, would there be a better world when the smoke and fire had died down and the bullets had stopped whizzing about his head. No one could plan for anything, not even for the day the war ended. But even after the euphoria of the war ending, would a better future begin? Heinrich wanted a future, but knew it would perhaps be harder and tougher than any battle he had fought, or was about to fight.    

The drive back to town was silent and uneventful, and when they reached the harbour where the supply ship had finally docked and the stevedores were off-loading crates in the pouring rain, Steiner turned off towards the town hall; army headquarters, but instead, Heinrich ordered him back to the billet. Steiner objected, but only for a little while, as Heinrich was about to formally charge him with insubordination. Steiner said no more until he had parked the car outside the hotel.

‘What now, Sir,’ he asked.

‘Mind your own damned business,’ Heinrich shouted as he opened the car door to let Hannah out.

The look of apprehension had disappeared from Hannah’s face, to be replaced by an expression of total astonishment at what was happening.

As the rain beat down on their heads Heinrich said, ‘Would you like to see your daughter? Izzy has said she would like to see you.’ 

Hannah’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I’ve wanted to see her for such a long time. How is she?’

‘She’s very well, go inside and I will come back for you in a few hours,’ Heinrich smiled.

‘Thank you,’ she said and began to walk through the gate towards the front door.

Heinrich got back into the car to Steiner’s protests about keeping the Major waiting and to make up time, he set off at breakneck speed, only to lose control as the back wheels spun on the wet, slippery tarmac, careering the car towards a garden fence. Steiner quickly turned into the skid, to eventually right the careering vehicle, pulling the car away from disaster.  

Heinrich found the Major pacing up and down his office when he walked in.

‘Where the hell have you been, Oberleutnant? You were given orders to be here at seven, it is now eight twenty five,’ the Major shouted as he looked at his watch.

‘Problem with the milk tally up at the Marshall farm. All sorted now, Sir,’ Heinrich explained.

‘Jesus,’ the Major groaned. ‘I am a professional soldier who’s only highlight of any day is to find discrepancies in the food tallies. What is this world coming to?’ he murmured.

Heinrich just stood to attention.

‘You’ve heard about those British sailors and marines whose bodies were washed ashore yesterday after being torpedoed by one of our submarines?’ the Major said as he sat down.

‘Yes, Sir,’ Heinrich replied. ‘Steiner informed me. Twenty in all, I’ve been told.’

‘The Kommandant has ordered that all of them be given a burial with full military honours. All officers along with a unit of troops will attend: wreaths will be laid, and the islanders have been informed they may attend. We are expecting the whole island to turn out, so, get out that Iron Cross and give it a polish, Oberleutnant.’

‘Yes, Sir, what time is the funeral to take place?’

‘Ten sharp in the morning. I’ll be attending with the Oberst and the other top brass. You will command the troops on parade. Give them a work-out first thing, they’re getting lazy and far too comfortable living here.’

‘Yes, Sir.’

‘Dismissed,’ the Major said as he picked up a pile of papers to look through. ‘Oh, and I hear your mistress is now living at your billet.’

Heinrich sighed, the Major probably knew the exact times they made love. No one could do anything without someone else finding out. Although his affair with Izzy had been in the open for some time, they had tried to keep it to themselves.

‘And how is Fraulein Dubois?’ Heinrich asked. ‘Still looking after that demented mother of hers?’

The Major look intently at Heinrich, ‘It’s like being back home, isn’t it, a snoop on every corner. But life is a bit more civilised here, don’t you think?’

‘I can’t complain,’ Heinrich replied. 

The re-union between Hannah and Izzy proved tearful, even more so as Hannah had not seen her sister, Margaret, for some time either. They had always been so close they were inseparable, but Sydney had driven his bulky wedge between them which made Margaret angry and bitter: Harry just felt sorry for the man. Hannah, surprised at Harry’s recovery, was even more shocked when she saw her daughter for the first time in a few weeks. She looked so blooming and happy. Hannah just stood smiling after embracing and kissing her daughter: she couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. Izzy then took Hannah up to her room to show her where she supposedly slept, while Harry made a fire in their living room and Margaret went to make tea and toast. But Hannah was under no illusion that her daughter probably spent as little time in there as possible.

‘So you’ve been given the box-room,’ Hannah said.

‘Not exactly, Mum, I just pretend to live in here. I share the best hotel room in the house,’ she replied, taking her mother’s hand to go across the landing into Heinrich’s room. ‘I share this with Heinrich,’ Izzy said.

Hannah looked around. ‘I’ve always like this room,’ she said. ‘It has a sea view. Well almost has a sea view, if you count craning your neck and standing on tip-toe to get a look,’ Hannah responded. Izzy laughed as Hannah moved around the room. ‘Are these his children?’ she asked picking up the framed picture that always stood on the chest of drawers.

‘Yes,’ Izzy replied. ‘The older one is Hilde, and the younger girl, Heidi.’

‘They’re pretty little things, aren’t they?’ Hannah sighed, then she looked at her own daughter.

‘Don’t start, Mum, please,’ Izzy asked.

‘Did you know I was coming here to see you?’ Hannah asked.

‘No, I asked him not to interfere,’ Izzy replied.

Hannah snorted. ‘Like all men; always do as they are told.’

Izzy laughed. ‘Mum, I want to show you something,’ and she dipped her hand into Heinrich’s top drawer to pull out the drawings to hand them over to her mother.

Hannah slowly looked through them. ‘That’s the lighthouse,’ she said, ‘at Corbiere.’ Then she looked at the other scenes of eye-catching beauty that were dotted around the island. Then she came to the ones of Izzy. She was fine until she came to the nude of her reclining on the bed, then the other one where she was standing naked, her breasts pertly protruding. 

‘Don’t you think they’re good,’ Izzy asked.

‘Yes, they’re really good, but you let him see you with nothing on,’ Hannah said shocked.

‘Yes,’ Izzy frowned

‘Did you pose for them?’

‘No, he drew them from memory.’

‘Do you always let him see you naked?’

‘Yes, doesn’t Dad see you naked?’ Izzy asked.

‘No, he most certainly does not,’ Hannah said horrified. ‘He’s never once seen me naked, and I have never once been naked when in his company.’

‘Not even in bed?’ Izzy asked.

‘No. not ever. Did Alain see you naked?’

‘Yes,’ Izzy replied. ‘We liked to strip off outdoors, let the sun and fresh air beat down on our skin.’

‘Izzy,’ Hannah said alarmed. ‘What if someone had seen you?’

‘If they did we never got to hear about it,’ Izzy replied.

Hannah sat in the armchair in the bay. ‘I’ve missed you, Izzy,’ she said.

‘I’ve missed you too, Mum,’ Izzy replied as she sat on the hard wooden chair by the table.

‘And how is… treating you?’ Hannah asked.

Izzy took hold of her mother’s hand. ‘His name is Heinrich, I wish you’d say it, Mum.’

Hannah closed her eyes, she wanted to ask so many questions: try and understand the situation. But to Izzy and Heinrich the situation was perfectly simple, or was it? Hannah knew the very complicated situation would end in unhappiness and disappointment.

‘When do you have to go?’ Izzy asked, not wanting to talk about the,
what ifs,
it was the here and now she was interested in.

‘Heinrich said he would take me back home,’ Hannah replied. There, she had said his name. Perhaps that was the first step to accepting him as a person, and the lover of her daughter. It was. She had to accept it or ignore it, and she couldn’t ignore her daughter indefinitely. Sydney had made her so unhappy by insisting she never saw her again. Now she had seen her, she knew she would have to see her again, and nothing; no one; would stop her doing just that.